I found an old friend as well
Two weeks ago, I was going through the gun safe and re-discovered my 6 inch barreled S&W 586. I am not a revolver guy and prefer semi-autoes, but when I saw this in a gun shop overseas, I had to check it out.
What caught my eye were the MAGNA PORTS on the top of the barrel. I asked to see it and found that the action was exquisite, smooth as a COLT Python. I had to have it and bought it on the spot.
Well, my log book shows I have not fired it for 10 years. So I took it to the range with box of REMINGTON 125 grain .38 Special +P sjhp and a box of WINCHESTER White Box 110 grain jhp.
WONDERFUL. I will have to go to the range again with it. The MAGNA PORTS make the +P .38 Special ammo feel like standard pressure round nose lead and the 110 grain .357 ammo like the +P load in other guns, but noisier!
Best of all, both of these loads are relatively cheap and effective.
One that model 19, 158 grain ammo is fine for hunting, but not so good on self defense. The 125 grain .357 magnum ammo was the king of stopping power until the hot .40 S&W ammo hit the scene in the late 1990's.
My agency used the 110 grain .357 magnum ammo for a decade with a lot of success. The recoil is much milder than the heavy bullet ammo and much more effective for self defense. I would use the 158 grain .357 magnum ammo only for hunting ammo.
Jim
Try to avoid shooting light hot loads (110-125 gr) as much as possible. They will erode the forcing cone (not "I think they will" or "I read it on the Internet" - they WILL eat the forcing cone just like an oxy-acetylene cutting torch). Been there - done that. You can see the beginnings of erosion on the forcing cone and topstrap now in your photo. Just a little. With 158 gr. loads it will last forever. Love those grips. In the 80s I worked for a dealer and we sold a bunch of those guns. S&W will never make them like that again. Classic machine. Take time to clean those recessed rim chambers really well. A toothpick works well. Your cylinder stop is nice and sharp - that thing hasn't had very many miles put on it.
